Bardellini was charged with two separate violations of the reproval, according to the 19-page decision issued July 10 by the state bar court. Those violations involved his alleged failure to submit a quarterly report, provide proof that he attended ethics school and that he passed the multistate professional responsibility examination (MPRE).

The court recommended that Bardellini received a stayed one-year suspension and be placed on two years' conditional probation with 30 days of actual suspension, the decision said.

Bardellini was privately reproved in September 2016 after he stipulated to three acts of misconduct during his pro bono representation of an incarcerated client on a petition for writ of habeas corpus, according to the decision.

The state bar's recommendation is pending final action by the California Supreme Court, an appeal before the state bar's review department or expiration of time in which parties may request further review within the state bar court.

Bardellini was admitted to the bar in California on Dec. 21, 1977, according to his profile at the state bar website. Bardellini had prior discipline before the state bar before the reproval, according to the decision.

The office of chief trial counsel initiated the proceeding against Bardellini in December when it filed a single-count notice of disciplinary charges against him, according to the decision. Bardellini responded to the notice in March and his one-day trial took place April 16.

At trial, Bardellini admitted he submitted his first quarterly report late, according to the decision. Bardellini also gave the incorrect date for his ethics school attendance and he says he has tried to schedule taking the MPRE, the decision said.

Portions of one count against him for failing to timely submit his final report and willfully failing to attend ethics school were dismissed with prejudice but the court found Bardellini willfully failed to take and pass the MPRE within one year after the effective date of his private reproval.